GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS OPEN ATLANTIC DIVISION SWING TONIGHT IN SPRINGFIELD
Dec 13, 2023TONIGHT'S GAME OVERVIEW
The Rochester Americans (11-7-2-0) continue their trek through the Atlantic Division tonight as they embark on a three-game road swing against the Springfield Thunderbirds (12-8-2-0) at MassMutual Center. The 7:00 p.m. contest will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.
Tonight is just the 15th meeting between the Amerks and Thunderbirds over the last seven seasons.
Rochester has nine wins against Springfield since the start of the 2016-17 campaign. More impressively, the Amerks have not had a losing record against the Thunderbirds.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS AGAINST SPRINGFIELD
The two clubs have split the season-series in each of the last four seasons with each team posting one win as well as a loss. On Feb. 10, the Amerks, suffered their first lost on home ice against Springfield and show a 5-1-0-0 mark at home dating back to the 2016-17 season. Rochester evened the season-series with a 7-1 victory in Springfield 15 days later on the road.
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, there have been six one-goal games, four two-goal contests and a pair of seven-plus goal outings over the previous 14 contests between Springfield and Rochester.
Rochester shows a 2-2-1 record in the last six seasons on the road in Springfield. The Amerks are searching for points in back-to-back road games in Massachusetts for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.
LAST TIME OUT
The Amerks erased a one-goal deficit early in the first period but ultimately were unable to keep up with the Charlotte Checkers, who scored five straight unanswered goals, including four in the third period, to run away with a 6-1 win Friday at The Blue Cross Arena.
Forward Michael Mersch scored his third goal in the opening frame from Brett Murray and Kale Clague. Justin Richards had a season-high four shots, which topped all Amerks.
Veteran goaltender Dustin Tokarski (4-3-1) made 25 saves in the defeat. Tokarski faced 11 shots in each of the first two periods against his former team.
THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE
The Amerks own two of the league’s top scoring defensemen in Jeremy Davies and Kale Clague, who have combined for four goals and 25 points in Rochester’s first 20 games of the season.
Davies, who scored a career-high 11 goals last season, including three game-winning tallies, is tied for 10th amongst all AHL blueliners with a team-high 51 shots. He’s recorded at least one shot in all but three games this season. Davies, who closed out the month of October on a five-game point streak, has recorded at least one point in 10 of his first 19 games this season, never going more than three straight games without a point.
Clague, meanwhile, is tied for 13th among all rearguards with 12 assists in 18 games. Clague opened the campaign with three multi-point performances and enters the week with assists in four of his last five games.
DYNAMIC DUO: THE SEQUEL
Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen both return for their second seasons in Rochester after putting up one of the most impressive and productive seasons as teenagers in the history of the AHL during the 2022-23 campaign.
Kulich continued his torrid start to the season to begin the month against Belleville, scoring his team-leading 12 and 13th goals in just his 18th game. Kulich, whose 24 goals last season were the second-most ever by an 18-year-old in league history, is currently tied for second in the AHL in goals. The forward, who hasn’t gone more than three games without a goal this season, joined Luke Adam (2013-14) and Jack Quinn (2021-22) as the only other Amerks skaters to score nine goals through their first 11 games.
With six points over his last three games, which includes a career-best four point (2+2) effort in Cleveland on Nov. 18, Rosen is tied 25th in the in AHL in scoring with 19 points as he recently returned from his first recall with the Sabres.
Back on Nov. 25, Kulich and Rosen both made their NHL debuts with the Buffalo Sabres against New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center
The duo has combined for 121 points (59+62) in 161 regular season games. Rochester boasts an impressive 20-3-2-1 record when they each record at least one point in the same game as well as a near-perfect 8-1-0-0 mark when they both score in the same game.
LEVI'S WEEKEND IN ROCHESTER
Earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres assigned rookie goaltender Devin Levi to the Amerks before promptly recalling him on Dec. 5. Levi, 21, is the only goaltender drafted in 2020 or later to appear in an NHL game this season. He owns 5-4-1 with an .898 save percentage in nine appearances
Levi made his AHL debut in Rochester’s 3-2 shootout win on Dec. 1, making 40 saves while also becoming the fourth different goaltender to man the pipes for Rochester this season, joining Michael Houser, Devin Cooley and Dustin Tokarski. Rochester has used four or more netminders in each of the last three years since the 2020-21 campaign.
Levi won the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goaltender in men’s college hockey, for the second straight year following the 2022-23 season. Levi is the only two-time winner in the award’s history, which was introduced in 2014 and named in honor of former Wisconsin goaltender and Stanley Cup champion Mike Richter.
He led the nation again with a .933 save percentage, one year after he set the second-best mark in NCAA history with a .952 save percentage. He tied for third in the nation in both shutouts (6) and saves (1,183). Levi’s 16-career shutouts are a Northeastern University school record.
The Quebec native finished his two seasons at Northeastern with a 38-22-6 record. His resume includes a Beanpot title, a Hockey East regular-season championship and an NCAA tournament appearance. Levi was also named Hockey East Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2022-23 and was one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award.
Internationally, he helped Canada win a silver medal at the World Junior Championship in 2021 while earning tournament MVP honors and later added a gold medal at the 2023 World Championship. He was also on the Canadian roster at the Beijing Olympics in 2022.
SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Amerks come into the week with the AHL’s fourth-best offense, averaging 3.55 goals per game through their first 20 games of the season. Their 71 goals are tied for 12-most in the AHL.
Rochester has put up at least four goals in 10 of its first 20 games, including six outings with five goals or more.
The Amerks are a perfect 6-0-0-0 this season when scoring five goals in a game. Rochester is tied for sixth in the AHL with 24 first-period tallies this season.
WORKING OVERTIME
The shootout win over Belleville on Dec. 1 was the third over Rochester’s last six games that went beyond regulation. Overall, the Amerks have gone to extra time eight different times this season, which includes each of the first three games of the campaign.
Never before in the near 68-year history of the franchise have the Amerks opened a season with three consecutive overtime contests.
Rochester is one of two teams in the league with eight games decided beyond regulation this season (Belleville). Dating back to last season, 16 of Rochester’s previous 33 regular-season games have required overtime to determine a winner.
A JOBST WELL DONE
Mason Jobst is making the most with the Amerks as the fifth-year pro is in the process of duplicating his career year from 2022-23.
Through 16 games this season, the Speedway, Indiana, native has already half as many goals (7) and nearly a third in points (13) from his career-highs from last season, which included goals (14), assists (24) and points (38) in 61 games.
Jobst reached the 30-point plateau for the first time in his pro career last season, being one of 10 different Amerks to eclipse the mark. He also was one of 10 to score double figures in goals as he finished with a person-best 14 in 61 games.
Since the turn of the New Year, Jobst has amassed 18 goals and 38 points over his previous 53 games, which includes two hat tricks, both of which have come on home ice. He comes into tonight with eight goals and 11 assists over his previous 24 contests and has only been held with a point in back-to-back appearances just two over that span.
Jobst has totaled 64 points (25+39) in 103 career games with the Amerks dating back to the 2021-22 season.
TOKARSKI AMONG ELITE COMPANY
Veteran goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who missed the first eight games of the season due to an injury he sustained in training camp, made his season debut back on Nov. 3 against Utica.
In doing so, the two-time Calder Cup winner and AHL All-Star became just the 18th goaltender in league history to play in 400 career games, a list that also includes former Amerks Bobby Perreault (512), Michael Leighton (507), Drew MacIntyre (440) and Ed Chadwick (417).
Tokarski, who’s in his second stint with the Amerks and 10th different AHL franchise, went 1-1-0 during a brief two-game stint with Rochester as part of the COVID-shortnened 2020-21 campaign. He went 12-20-7 in 42 appearances with the Buffalo Sabres from 2021-23.
Currently in his 15th season, he joins Marcel Paille and Michael Leighton as the only goaltenders all-time to play at least 15 seasons in the AHL.
Tokarski, who’s 4-3-1 in his first eight starts, recently surpassed the 10,000-save mark for his AHL career following a 31-save effort against Utica on Nov. 10. He also reached the 12,000-save mark for his pro career the week prior when he made his season debut against the Comets.
Entering this week, the 34-year-old Tokarski is two wins away from tying Nick Damore for 12th all-time in career wins (208). He also ranks 18th all-time in games played (407) and will tie Yann Danis for eighth all-time with his next shutout.
In addition to being a two-time Calder Cup winner (2012, 2019), Tokarski won a Memorial Cup with Spokane in 2008 followed by a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championship.
Tokarski has reached the 20-win mark five times over his 15-year pro career, including a career-best 32 wins in 2011-12 when he backstopped the Norfolk Admirals to a professional hockey record of 28 straight wins while leading the club to its and only Calder Cup.
SERIES NOTABLES
Rochester blueliner Ethan Prow spent the 2019-20 campaign with Springfield prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 42 games with the Thunderbirds, Prow led all defensemen with nine goals and .76 points-per-game in 42 games while his 32 points and 27 assists were second and third, respectively.
Springfield goaltender Malcolm Subban posted a 20-14-5 and two shutouts in a career-high 39 games with the Amerks last season. His 20 wins marked a new personal-best and were tied for 12th-most among goaltenders. He also recorded multiple shutouts for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign. The Toronto native went 8-6 while starting all 14 playoff appearances as he backstopped the Amerks to the Eastern Conference Finals.
During Rochester’s last visit to the MassMutual Center on Feb. 25, the Thunderbirds opened the scoring just 1:28 into the contest before the Amerks responded with seven straight to earn a 7-1 victory. Eight different players finished with multiple points highlighted by Isak Rosen’s first-career two-goal outing and three-point performance.
Springfield interim head coach Daniel Tkaczuk, who was promoted to the position earlier this morning, had a brief seven-game stint with the Amerks during the 2009-10 campaign, recording two assists.
Rochester Americans vs Springfield Thunderbirds: Head To Head Stats
Summary
|
Description |
Result |
|
| Head to Head Record 2023-24 Regular Season | Rochester 0-0-0-0 | Springfield 0-0-0-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2022-23 Regular Season | Rochester 1-1-0-0 | Springfield 1-1-0-0 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Rochester 3-2-1-0 | Springfield 3-2-0-1 |
| Rochester vs. Springfield Last 5 Years record at Rochester | Rochester 1-1-0-0 | Springfield 1-0-0-1 |
| Rochester vs. Springfield Last 5 Years record at Springfield | Rochester 2-1-1-0 | Springfield 2-2-0-0 |
How the two teams match up
|
Springfield |
Rochester |
|
| Team Record | 12-8-2-0 -- 26 points | 11-7-2-0 -- 24 points |
| Division Ranking | 4th Atlantic | 5th North |
| Conference Ranking | 6th Eastern | 12th Eastern |
| League Ranking | 11th | 21st |
| Past 10 Games | 5-3-2-0 | 5-5-0-0 |
| Streak | 3-0-1-0 | 0-2-0-0 |
| Last Game | 5-1 W vs Bridgeport (Dec 9 2023) Final | 6-1 L vs Charlotte (Dec 8 2023) Final |
| Home Record | 9-3-1-0 | 5-2-2-0 |
| Away Record | 3-5-1-0 | 6-5-0-0 |
| GF | 70 | 71 |
| GA | 59 | 84 |
| PP (Overall) | (18/92) 19.6% | (15/68) 22.1% |
| PP (Home) | (12/59) 20.3% | (5/28) 17.9% |
| PP (Away) | (6/33) 18.2% | (10/40) 25.0% |
| PK (Overall) | (15/90) 83.3% | (21/79) 73.4% |
| PK (Home) | (10/51) 80.4% | (7/29) 75.9% |
| PK (Away) | (5/39) 87.2% | (14/50) 72.0% |
| PP vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% | (0/0) 0% |
| PK vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% | (0/0) 0% |
| Leading Rookie | Bolduc (4-6-10) | Novikov (0-8-8) |
| Most PIM | Gaudette - 27 | Cecconi - 34 |
| Team PIM/GM | 12.7/Game | 12.1/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Walker (11-14-25) | Kulich (13-6-19) |
| Gaudette (13-10-23) | Rosen (8-11-19) | |
| Peca (6-14-20) | Jobst (7-6-13) | |
| McGing (4-11-15) | Clague (1-12-13) | |
| Rosen (0-14-14) | Biro (6-6-12) | |
| Last 5 Games | 5-1 W vs Bridgeport (Dec 9 2023) Final | 6-1 L vs Charlotte (Dec 8 2023) Final |
| 4-3 W @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Dec 2 2023) Final OT | 4-2 L @ Belleville (Dec 2 2023) Final | |
| 3-2 L vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Dec 1 2023) Final OT | 3-2 W @ Belleville (Dec 1 2023) Final SO | |
| 7-0 W vs Utica (Nov 25 2023) Final | 5-4 L @ Lehigh Valley (Nov 25 2023) Final | |
| 4-2 L vs Hartford (Nov 24 2023) Final | 3-2 W vs Laval (Nov 24 2023) Final OT | |
| Leading After 1st | 6-1-0-0 | 6-2-0-0 |
| Leading After 2nd | 5-1-1-0 | 7-0-0-0 |
| Tied After 1st | 3-4-2-0 | 2-2-1-0 |
| Tied After 2nd | 4-3-1-0 | 2-1-2-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 3-3-0-0 | 3-3-1-0 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 3-4-0-0 | 2-6-0-0 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 6-1-1-0 | 4-2-1-0 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 5-7-1-0 | 6-5-1-0 |
| 1-Goal Games | 5-3-2-0 | 9-1-2-0 |
| 2-Goal Games | 2-3-0-0 | 1-2-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 3-1-0-0 | 1-0-0-0 |